From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 19 April, 2026

Hi everyone.
Term II of School Begins This Week.
I hope you all have had a lovely Easter and that the school holidays have not been too stressful for all you parents of school age kids. It was certainly a little quieter around the Parish grounds these last two weeks, even if the Sunday Mass attendances have still been very large.

Carlos Acutis 'Miracles of the Eucharist' Exhibition SCB Hall 20 - 26 April
On Monday, the Parish Hall at SCB Ryde will be hosting an exhibition of the 'Eucharistic Miracles of the World' that St Carlos Acutis, a recently proclaimed Catholic Saint, compiled. The hall will be open 10 am - 4 pm Monday - Sunday. See more in the information box on the opposite page.

Rite of Christian Initiation of High School Students
Classes will begin on Wednesday 6 May from 6 pm- 7 pm and run for eight (8) weeks for high school students wanting to be fully received int the Catholic Church from the surrounding area. If you have teenagers who have not yet received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Reconciliation/Holy Communion and Confirmation) please get in touch with either Tessa Quan, our Sacramental Coordinator at sc@rgcp.org.au, or Fr. Steve, our Youth Ministry Coordinator for more details. If they have already been baptised, either in the Catholic Church or in another Christian denomination, please also send in a copy of their baptismal certificate (and First Holy Communion Certificate if they have also already received this).

Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (Primary School Age).
Several enquiries have been received recently from parents of primary school aged children who have 'fallen through the cracks' in our usual sacramental system, and who now wish for them to receive their "Sacraments of Initiation" into the Catholic Church. Our usual process for doing this is to have them join the normal courses we offer each year for state school children (First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion in Year 3, and Confirmation in Year 6).

If, however, they have progressed on in school without having received these Sacraments at that usual time, 'catch up' courses are offered by the Parish. We then usually have their First Reconciliation celebrated privately at a mutually convenient time, and their First Holy Communion at one of our regular weekend Masses when they are ready for it (usually at our Saturday evening Vigil services). We generally hold these 'catch up courses twice a year. Please contact Tessa Quan at sc@rgcp.org.au for more information.

Didasko Faith Formation on "Introduction to the Eucharist" Monday 20 April
As a Parish, RGCP will be offering formation evenings over the next two years before our 2028 encounter with Pope Leo here in Sydney at the International Eucharistic Conference. We begin these free 'faith formation' evenings this Monday with Rev. Dr. Paschal Corby OFM via zoom in the Gell Room at the SCB Parish Centre. In this introductory lecture he will be discussing the foundations of the Christian faith in the gift of the Eucharist. Session starts at 7.30 pm and finishes at 8.45 pm (coffee and tea provided). Future topics will be presented on Monday 4, 11 and 18 May. Please RSVP us to let us know how many are coming along.

Need for Volunteers for Parking on Weekends at SCB
We still need a few Parking Wardens on most weekends to help on Sunday Masses at SCB Church. With the clear increase in Church attendances over the past few years, we now find ourselves in the situation of not having enough car spaces for all those who come for Weekend Masses here. So, if you can pick up a neighbour who normally drives (and save them petrol by doing so) that would free up more parking spaces for visitors and guests. In any case, we need people to 'direct traffic' at the 8 am, 10 am and 6 pm Masses at SCB virtually every weekend now. Let us know at the Parish Office if you could spare about 20 minutes before the Masses and help us out.

And that's about it for now. God bless, and have a lovely week ahead.

Fr. Greg